Making the Most of your Maternity Photography: My Top Tips for Stunning Pregnancy Images
Hooray! Congratulations you’re having a baby. Whether this is your first or your fifth (hats off to you if it is!) this is a moment worth celebrating and remembering. So what better way to celebrate the magic of what you body is doing, (because let’s face it, it is kind of bonkers and beautiful all in one) than by taking some stunning pregnancy images that make you feel like the goddess you are.
I’ve been all over Somerset photographing Mums-to-be as they bare their bumps and document this beautiful and important time in their families story. So I’m here to share with you some of my favourite tips and tricks so that you can get the absolute most out of your maternity photography.
Location, Location, Location
When picking the location for your maternity photography always consider the kind of feel you want your images to have. I always encourage my clients to use Pinterest to help them pick out the aesthetic they are looking for and create a mood board of locations, clothing and poses that they like. This will help you and your photographer communicate the style and feel you are looking for with your images.
Also, think about where you like to go to feel relaxed and at peace. Are you a strolling along the beach, feet in the sand kind of gal? Or is a summer flower meadow more your vibe? Maybe you’d like to try something more urban or even have the session in your home? There are lots of options so get exploring and pinning ideas.
Wardrobe and Styling
It’s important to consider, alongside the location, what style of clothing you’re attracted to in maternity photo’s. Again, this should be something that you feel represents you and also something that you feel comfortable in. Floaty long gypsy dresses are a great option if you don’t like to bare too much skin and you can pair them with a slouchy cardigan to add some texture. You can purchase maternity photoshoot dresses online that allow you to stay covered on top and reveal your bump (see picture below). Or, if you’re feeling at one with nature and it’s not too chilly there is always the fully nude option. Super empowering and creates an incredibly powerful picture.
Many Maternity Photographers have a range of dress options that you can borrow from their Client Closet. So it’s worth asking when booking your session for some
Not sure where to start looking for maternity photoshoot clothing. Here are some links to help you get started.
Baltic Born have a great range of ‘Bump Friendly’ Dresses in various styles colours and sizes.
JJ’s House feature a range of longer maternity dresses with off the shoulder options.
SHIEN has a range of budget friendly dresses that can be twinned with a chunky knit for texture.
Lukalulu are a company based in the US that specialise in Maternity clothing. They have some brilliant options and are worth a look even just for inspiration.
Etsy has some fantastic sellers who specialise in Maternity dresses for photoshoots like Boho Mama Design and Lacy Custom Dresses
Ebay are my go to for thrifting beautiful bohemian dresses, you never know what you might find and it could be just what you’re looking for.
Body Confidence
Unless you’re Cindy Crawford or Kate Moss you probably don’t ‘know your angles’ and how to pose your body so it looks good for the camera. And that’s absolutely ok!
As a photographer its my job to help guide you into poses that show off your body at its best. There are ways to stand and sit that mean no double chin, no wide arms, no crinkled top of thigh. I will be chatting away to you the whole session, making little changes and telling you what looks good. It’s all about communication so that you feel calm, relaxed and comfortable at all times. Because if you feel great you probably look great too!
Making it a Family Affair
There is nothing more gorgeous than having shots of your little ones giving the bump some love so ask your photographer if they can come along for the session. If its outdoor, they could go off for an explore with Dad and come back for some golden hour snuggle shots or if it’s an in home shoot the family on the bed together is always a winner.
There are also some beautiful poses that can be created between couples to really give you a great range of images in your gallery. My personal favourites are the partner kissing the bump and the wrap around hands. If you have any that you’d love to be included in gallery make sure to share them with you photographer.
Timing it to perfection
I’m going to kill two birds with one subheading here.
Firstly, when is the best time in your pregnancy to have you maternity photography?
Ideally you want to book your photoshoot for between the 7th and 8 month of your pregnancy. This is around the time where your bump will be getting rounder and a bit more pronounced. But it is before you are coming to full term and experiencing things like swollen ankles and face etc.
Secondly, when is the best time of day for you maternity photoshoot?
Great photos are all about great light and outdoor photography is relying on the sun to provide that light. When the sun is overhead like in the middle of the day the light is very harsh and shadows are more pronounced so photographers tend to avoid that like the plague.
The perfect time for a session are the golden hours, the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. At these times the light is softer with more of a golden hue and your images will shine with warmth. Because sunrise/sunset time differ throughout the year make sure to confirm with your photographer when they think is best to get the most form your session and your chosen location.
Where to go next?
Check out these links to some of my other blog posts to find out more about Maternity Photoshoots
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